Mercian welded frame - 1949

Owned by: Peter Underwood

I had never ridden a
Mercian until
I tried one in 2007, I enjoyed riding it so much it inspired
me to
restore this welded frame which was sitting unloved in our garage. What
clinched it was when I found that I could get the correct transfers
which are of an earlier type, as shown below. Although the frame had
braze-ons for gears the rear ends were only 105mm so I could only
squeeze in (and it was a squeeze) a four-speed block to go with the
Simplex Tour de France gear. Again it rides beautifully.

Model with
early
transfers, down tube ‘MERCIAN’ cascades rather than
side by
side lettering. Head badge has names of both Crowther and
Barker. Fitted with dark green Bluemels mudguards for winter riding.